Security arrangements have been tightened in Rawalpindi and Islamabad following announcements of four separate long marches expected over the coming week. The administration has decided to keep educational institutions, hotels, markets and transport terminals closed in Rawalpindi.
In view of the expected long marches between September 20 and 27, authorities have decided to suspend mobile and internet services in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Meanwhile, all 1,500 cameras installed under the Safe City project in Rawalpindi have been activated to monitor protesters.
All schools, colleges and universities in Rawalpindi, along with hotels, motels, rest houses and inns, will remain closed during the coming week.
Transport and freight terminals will also remain completely closed, while the Metro Bus and Green Electric Bus services will be suspended.
Authorities have also decided to close all markets and wholesale markets in the city. Containers fitted with large eight-inch spikes are being installed at entry points to the twin cities. Entry routes including Faizabad, Chungi No. 26, Rawat, Chakri, Adiala Road, Pirwadhai, Bhara Kahu and 17-Mile are being closed, while surveillance will also be conducted through drones.
Emergency measures have been imposed at all hospitals in the twin cities, with leave cancelled for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.
Additional contingents of the Rangers and Punjab Constabulary have also been called in. Rawalpindi and Islamabad police have been provided with thousands of rubber bullets and tear-gas shells.
Attock Police have also been provided with a heavy deployment of Rangers, armoured vehicles, prisoner vans, heavy weapons and additional personnel, who will take charge of duties on Wednesday and Thursday. According to officials, the main long march coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be stopped.
Edhi centres have also been placed on alert. Prisoners held at Adiala Jail will not be produced before courts in Rawalpindi and Islamabad during the coming week, while jail staff have also been assigned security duties in the city.
Law-enforcement agencies will also begin a show of force from Monday.
The Jamaat-e-Islami long march will begin from Karachi on September 20, while caravans from all six districts of the Rawalpindi Division will start reaching Liaquat Bagh from Sunday. Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman will also leave Karachi for Rawalpindi by train on Sunday, with his train march scheduled to reach Rawalpindi on September 22.
Daily protest sit-ins will continue in Rawalpindi until Hafiz Naeemur Rehman arrives.
Due to road closures and the installation of spike-fitted containers at various locations, all business, commercial and social activities in Rawalpindi are expected to remain suspended from September 21 to 27.
President of the Anjuman Tajran Sabzi Mandi Saddar, Ghulam Qadir Mir, and President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association, Irfan Muzaffar Kiani, strongly criticised repeated strikes, long marches, road closures, installation of containers and the closure of schools and colleges.
They called for political dialogue with all political parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying negotiations were necessary to reduce political uncertainty and protect the country’s economy. They said the use of force and long marches would not resolve the issues.